Straight forward and easy to use

Riding is the same as for a conventional e-bike. Switch on the fuel cell and drive automatically kicks in if the peddle sensor detects that you need additional power. Even in case you should run out of fuel (after more than 100 km) you can always ride on without the auxiliary drive.

Quick refill and long range

The H2 Bike has a long range (100 km) and a short refuelling window of just a few minutes. Refuelling the bike doesn’t require visiting a filling station. You can do it easily at home in your garage with a mobile gas package including a Linde hydrogen GENIE cylinder.

Zero emissions with hydrogen from green sources

The Linde H2 bike runs on renewable hydrogen, made from electrolysis or biomass. Therefore it has a significantly smaller carbon footprint than conventional e-bikes.

The Fuel Cell

Once you switch on the fuel cell, the tank supplies the fuel cell with H2. The electrical energy from the fuel cell flows to the buffer battery and charges it.

The Fuel Tank

The Hydrogen fuel tank with pressure regulator supplies the fuel cell with H2. It features a press-fit connection to which a fuelling nozzle can be easily attached to fill up the tank.
The Gauge on H₂ storage tank shows the remaining distance.

The Auxiliary Drive

The auxiliary drive automatically kicks in if the peddle sensor detects that you need additional power. This happens if the voltage of the buffer battery drops below 35 V. However, the auxiliary power supply cuts out again at speeds in excess of 25 km/h for legislative reasons.

Technical specifications

Bicycle

Total weight of bike

~ 23.6 kg

Maximum speed in electric mode

25 km/h

Motor power

250 w

Frame material

Aluminium

Gears

Shimano deore M610

Tyres

Schwalbe Big Ben 55-559/26 x 2.15

Rims

Sun Ringle Track 26″

Pedals

Wellgo Co98 Blk

H2 system

Weight of fuel cell system

3.7 kg

Max. working pressure of cylinder

340 bar

Storage capacity

33gr H2, corresponding to 1,000 Wh

Range per cylinder filling

> 100 km

Fuelling time

1 – 6 min

Fuel cell lifetime

5 years

Fuel cell efficiency

~ 50%

Buffer battery

60 Wh

Why?

Why electrify?

In the search for more sustainable, climate-friendly mobility choices, pedelecs (from pedal electric cycle) or electric bikes (e-bikes) are seen as an increasingly attractive option for urban mobility.

They avoid the hassle of traffic congestion, allowing cyclists to cover longer distances and peddle uphill with ease.

In the EU alone, pedelec and e-bike sales have risen more than ten-fold over the last nine years. All of this makes hydrogen the perfect source of energy if you are interested in moving towards lower-carbon, zero-emissions mobility choices.

Why hydrogen?

Many e-bikes are powered by lead acid or lithium-ion batteries, which require regular charging and offer limited driving range. Now, hydrogen (H2) is giving e-bikers a chance to go greener and further.

First of all, hydrogen is a clean fuel – releasing only water vapour when converted in a fuel cell. It can be generated by electrolysing water and if it is electrolysed using a regenerative source of energy, it is carbon neutral. Which means that you are not contributing to climate change. Last but not least, hydrogen is the most commonly occurring element in nature, which – unlike fossil fuels – will never run out so you don’t have to worry about depleting the earth’s natural resources.

All of this makes hydrogen the perfect source of energy if you are interested in moving towards lower-carbon, zero-emissions mobility choices.

Why bike on hydrogen?

Looking beyond climate protection, H2 bikes also offer a range of practical benefits. Unlike regular e-bikes – which can take hours to recharge – the Linde H2 bike can be refilled in a matter of minutes. In addition to the convenience factor, H2 bikes eliminate the need for hazardous lead acid batteries common on regular e-bikes.

H2-powered bikes also go the distance – with one tank lasting for as much as 100 km on flat to mixed terrain. And if you are fond of creature comforts, you’ll be pleased to know that the heat exchanger on the fuel cell is integrated in the frame of the bike – so the heat it releases will keep your hands warm on colder days.

Why Linde?

The Linde Group has been developing and pioneering H2 production and delivery technologies for over 25 years. We have already developed many innovative H2 fuelling solutions for cars, busses and forklift trucks, and continue to actively drive the growing commercialisation of H2-powered fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEV).

Reaching beyond cars and busses, we are now excited to present the first H2-powered fuel-cell electric bike (pedelec). Our H2 bike reflects our determination to bring viable clean technologies within the everyday reach of climate-conscious citizens just like you.

…will open together with Siemens and Stadtwerke Mainz the world’s largest Power-to-Gas plant with hydrogen trailer filling?

How does the H2 bike work?

The principle behind the Linde H2 bike is very straightforward. Once you switch on the fuel tank supplies the fuel cell with H2. The fuel cell uses oxygen from the surrounding air to process the H2. This releases electrical energy and water.

The electrical energy from the fuel cell flows to the buffer battery and charges it. This buffer battery ensures a steady flow of power on demand to the drivetrain (auxiliary drive). It can even store regenerative energy – which is captured by the drivetrain when you decelerate, for instance, and fed back to the buffer battery.

This auxiliary drive automatically kicks in if the peddle sensor detects that you need additional power. This happens if the voltage of the buffer battery drops below 35 V. However, the auxiliary power supply cuts out again at speeds in excess of 25 km/h for legislative reasons (this corresponds to a battery voltage of around 38 V).

There is no need to worry if you run out of H2. The system safely shuts itself down automatically. Depending on the charge status of your buffer battery, the bike will still support assisted peddling for between 3 and 5 km. After that, you can continue to peddle your bike, but you will receive no assistance from the fuel cell.

How to start driving with the H2 bike?

Before starting your trip, check that you have sufficient H2 supplies. If the gauge on the storage tank indicates that the remaining range is less than 20 km, please refuel. If you have enough H2, press the ON/OFF button on the fuel cell.

This will also turn on an audible fan. The fan is required to supply the fuel cell with air (for H2 reaction) and as a vent. The fan may turn on while you are using the bike – this is perfectly normal.

In addition, you will hear a purging sound when you turn on the fuel cell. This purge process is repeated at regular intervals. If the outdoor temperature is below 5°C, the fuel cell takes a while to reach its core operational temperature (5°C). While it is warming up, the buffer battery supplies your auxiliary drive with power. So you can take off as soon as you turn the fuel cell on.

You do not need to turn off the fuel cell for short stops, for example at traffic lights. If you have finished your trip, however, you should turn off the fuel cell using the ON/OFF button.

Is the handling of hydrogen dangerous?

Hydrogen is a part of the daily industrial life since more than 100 years and fundamental to many processes. More than 65 m tons of hydrogen are produced and used on a yearly basis. The handling of hydrogen is pretty similar to the handling of natural gas, which got already accepted by many people as a fuel or their domestic energy source.

However: Hydrogen is an energy source / fuel, just as gas, diesel, LPG or batteries. As with any fuel, safety precautions, such as avoiding open fire, must be followed.

As an industrial gas company, Linde is one of the leading operators and manufacturer of hydrogen production plants. The long lasting experience in this industry helps us to make hydrogen as a fuel safe and its use customer-friendly.

Extensive tests carried out for example by the German testing, inspection and certification authority, TÜV Süd, have shown that hydrogen-powered cars are not any more dangerous than conventional vehicles.

What steps are being taken to make hydrogen available for safe, daily use?

Safety is a global issue in the gases industry. Leading manufacturers across the world come together to continually improve standards and make systems even safer. The task forces formed under the umbrella of the European Industrial Gases Association (EIGA) are a prime example of how companies come together to discuss safety issues and develop joint solutions. Plants and components are also subject to a large number of studies and tests to keep inherent risks posed by all energy carriers to an absolute minimum. In short, safety is always the number one priority.

What is the progress on the development of the hydrogen infrastructure?

There are more than 220 hydrogen fueling stations in operation worldwide. The 700 bar fueling technology has proven itself as the worldwide standard. Thanks to the early standardization and committee work, there are already standardized and internationally applicable protocols for the fueling process as well as one common refueling coupling for cars (advantage in comparison to BEVs).

Germany: It is projected to expand the infrastructure from 18 public fueling stations today, to 50 fueling station until 2016 and up to approx. 400 hydrogen fueling stations by the end of In order to achieve this goal, the H2 Mobility initiative (Air Liquide, Daimler, Linde, OMV, Shell and Total) was founded in early 2015. Thereby it will be possible to provide a sufficient infrastructure for the predicted growing number of fuel cell vehicles over the next years.

International: Linde is an active partner/supplier of similar initiatives in the following core markets: USA/California, UK, Scandinavia and Japan (supplier).

Recent example: On May 4th 2015 Germany’s first hydrogen fueling station (Total fueling station from Daimler/Line 20 HFS Program) located directly at a main motorway(German: “Autobahn”) opened in Geiselwind (Lower Franconia).

What energy sources can be used to produce hydrogen?

Hydrogen can be obtained from any form of primary energy whether renewable or conventional. Natural gas is the primary feedstock. It is used in a process called steam reforming to generate the vast majority (75 percent) of the world’s industrial hydrogen gas. This is because steam reforming is a very efficient, proven process and natural gas is readily available.

Linde has already built over 200 hydrogen production plants across the globe. The Group’s strategic objective, however, is to increase the regenerative share of the hydrogen mix required to power our mobility needs.

However, all the hydrogen Linde supplies as fuel, including for the Linde H2 bike, is made from renewable energy sources.

How much do you have to pay for hydrogen (mobility)?

It is not possible to give a sole number for the costs of producing hydrogen. It depends on the size and the type of the production plant, the distance to the market, the purity and the ordered quantity of hydrogen.

The price of hydrogen at fueling stations highly depends on the general conditions of the respective project. A price range, which fits the most pilot- and demonstration-plants, is 8 to 10 Euros per kilogram of refueled hydrogen.

Those numbers have to be understood as follows: As a rule of thumb, 1 kg hydrogen powers a car for approx. 100 km. The price of hydrogen is therefore already competitive with conventional fuels and will decrease further as the extension of the infrastructure and the fuel cell vehicle fleet advances.

Will hydrogen remain the fuel of the future? How do you assess the probability of hydrogen entering the fuel market?

The first step for a broad and commercial launch is already taken.

The OEMs demonstrated the feasibility of a commercial small series. Hydrogen mobility is now available for private customers (price Hyundai ix35: approx. 65.000 €, Toyota approx. 70.000 € in Europe). Hyundai and Toyota take the lead. Toyota is already planning the production of several thousand vehicles this year: the demand is much higher than originally anticipated.

The technology enabling the hydrogen fuel chain is still young and therefore offers huge scope for cost efficiencies, so we will see price drops in the medium term. Today, the price of untaxed hydrogen can already compete with conventional fuels. Taking all factors into consideration, the long-term cost of fuel-cell cars will be lower than conventional technologies.

Honda and Daimler announced to follow in 2016 / 2017. BMW, Nissan and Ford prepare their launches starting 2018.

Further markets (e.g. Material Handling) have also entered the first commercial market phase.

A new hydrogen joint venture has been started by Linde AG, AL, Total, Shell, Daimler, and OMV

What market potential has hydrogen as fuel?

Hydrogen as fuel has a huge market potential. The conversion of only 1% of the worldwide vehicle fleet already delivers an additional hydrogen market of more than 10 bn Euro (1.2 bn cars, 150 kg/year consumption, 8 €/kg hydrogen).

Linde is covering the entire value chain as a technology supplier (H2 production plants, conditioning and refueling stations).

Are Fuel Cell vehicles in competition with Battery Electric vehicles?

The common goal of FCEVs and BEVs is the emission-free mobility and the independence from fossil resources. Both concepts complete one another – BEVs are suitable for short distances and cities, while FCEVs can also cover medium to long distances.

Recharging times of BEVs are less than ideal for consumers. Today’s drivers face an average wait of up to seven hours. Even optimistic estimates for turbo charging exceed the half-hour mark. FCEVs offer a short refueling time of only 3 minutes while covering 500-600 km. FCEVs are therefore already comparable to conventional vehicles.

The way how to produce the hydrogen is decisive regarding the sustainability of the system. What role do power-to-gas solutions play?

Linde already uses green hydrogen, produced from renewable sources, in the mobility market. One example is the use of electrolysis in connection with renewable electricity production (especially wind power). Another example is the conversion of biogas to hydrogen using the steam methane reforming process.

Power-to-gas is a “power-to-anything” long-term storage solution. Hydrogen is produced using excess energy for the electrolysis. This hydrogen can be stored, fed in the existing gas distribution system or shipped and be used as fuel for FCEVs or as an industrial gas.

Hydrogen supports the energy transition (German: “Energiewende”): being storable, hydrogen supports an increasing share of renewable energy in the energy grid mix on a long-term basis.

According to the monitoring report of the Federal Grid Administration Authority (German:”Bundesnetzagentur”), 555 GWh of renewable energy had to be cut and regulated in Germany in 2013 (+44% comp. to 2012). This shows the necessity of an efficient storage technology.

The pilot project Energiepark Mainz was inaugurated on July 2nd 2015: first production and storage of „wind-hydrogen“ at a grid-relevant scale. Joint project with Siemens, Stadtwerke Mainz and the RheinMain University of Applied Sciences.

Linde aims to significantly increase the proportion of hydrogen it produces from sustainable energy sources in the long term. Which is why the company is breaking new ground in regenerative production processes as it explores possibilities such as algae and biomass as the feedstock.

Using electrolysis to produce hydrogen requires water. Will this conflict with drinking water supplies?

Securing water supplies is one of the greatest challenges facing mankind. Between 1 and 2.5 litres of water are required to produce just one litre of petrol. The generation and consumption of hydrogen produced through electrolysis is a closed cycle. The feedstock water is broken down into hydrogen and oxygen. During ‘combustion’ in a hydrogen-powered car, both gases recombine to form water. In other words, no water is actually consumed, making this a very appealing concept.

What were the highlights in the field of hydrogen as fuel during the last year?

Linde strengthened the partnership with Iwatani on the Japanese market.
Altogether Linde now delivers 30 compressor-/pump-systems for fueling stations in Japan.

Opening of the first small-series production for hydrogen fueling stations at the Application Technology Center in Vienna.

Delivery of the overall plant and opening of a car/bus hydrogen fueling station for the iiT in Bolzano (one of the largest hydrogen fueling stations in Europe).

Delivery, start-up and opening of further fueling stations in Aberdeen, Geiselwind, Innsbruck, Berlin and West Sacramento.

Upgrade of the testing and research center (Linde Hydrogen Center) by installing the latest fueling technology.

Isn’t the storage of hydrogen a problem? How can hydrogen be stored?

Hydrogen (H2) is a highly volatile gas that can escape through the smallest of leaks. However, industry wide work in material technology, welding, valve technology and screwed joints means hydrogen can be handled and stored safely – this has been proven over the last decades by the industrial gas industry.

Hydrogen can be stored as a gas, a liquid or in solid materials. It has a high gravimetric storage capacity but a low volumetric one. Therefore to store a reasonable amount it either has to be compressed or liquefied to cryogenic temperatures, i.e. -253 °C. Hydrogen can also be stored at low pressure in the form of metal hydrides, which are used in various niche applications.

Small volumes of compressed hydrogen gas are commonly stored in pressurised cylinders at either 200 or 300 bar with between 10 and 50 litres of volume per cylinder. They are mainly used for laboratory and welding applications and also as small refuelling solutions for the demonstration of hydrogen-powered vehicles.

A pressure vessel is the most suitable solution for storing medium amounts of hydrogen. These are widely used for many different gases and are variable in volume and pressure level. This storage technology is suitable for small and medium hydrogen fuelling stations as well as industrial customers who require medium amounts of hydrogen for their production processes.

Hydrogen delivered in liquid form can be stored in volumes of up to 70,000 litres in super-insulated tanks. Even though a central liquefaction of hydrogen consumes more energy than a central compression, the advantages is a higher energy density due to the reduced volume and therefore requires less space to store – for certain locations like fuelling station this is a key factor.